WoMeN iN busiNess - Planters Development Bank

US
communities like payatas where our
company rags2riches has social
partners. But we are quite fortunate.
Filipino women now have a bigger
voice in society compared with
other developing countries.
j u a n : i always notice that when
applying for a loan, bankers always
ask for spousal consent. This poses a
challenge especially for women who
are estranged from their partners or
husbands.
va l d e c a ñ a s: in the beauty business,
women have the advantage
over men. Being symbols of
beauty, women become walking
advertisements for our products.
The challenge is in living it and
maintaining one’s beautiful
appearance.
s m e: ARE WoMAN ENTREPRENEuRS
AT gREATER DISADVANTAgE
THAN MEN?
j u a n : Women are generally
nurturing. Social entrepreneurship
requires one to be more socially-
Chit Juan
conscious and nurturing, which is
certainly an advantage for women.
va l d e c a ñ a s: Women are more
comfortable in opening up about
personal concerns to other women,
which can be an advantage in
marketing. With women as your
market, you can count on wives to
bring husbands and children or to
make the purchase decisions for
them.
f e r n a n d e z: Being a woman allows
us to understand the needs of other
women. it’s an honor for me to serve
as an inspiration to women who are
experiencing difficulties. in terms
of skills, i don’t think gender really
matters.
s m e: WoMEN ARE KNoWN
FoR MuLTI-TASKINg, WHAT RoLES
Do You JuggLE IN A DAY
WHILE RuNNINg YouR BuSINESS?
f e r n a n d e z: My husband also shares
a profound love for the country and
social entrepreneurship so it’s easy
for us to find our time for each other
and for our advocacy.
j u a n : i sit in a number of nGo
boards. Besides attending board
meetings and managing echostore,
i also visit our farm once a week.
va l d e c a ñ a s: attending to the needs
of my growing children, attending
to many aspects of the business:
administrative, accounting,
operations and sales marketing,
and lastly, practicing my profession
as a doctor.
s m e: WHY Do You THINK WoMEN
MAKE ExCELLENT ENTREPRENEuRS?
va l d e c a ñ a s: Because women can
multi-task quite well.
f e r n a n d e z : Women are very
resourceful, resilient and firm, yet
gentle and nurturing.
j u a n: Women are risk-takers. More
often, women have no choice but
make ends meet so they find ways to
do that—through entrepreneurship.
Women don’t suffer from “analysisparalysis”
or pore over a situation
for too long. They just do it!
s m e: Do INDEPENDENT AND goALoRIENTED
WoMEN STILL INTIMIDATE
MEN ToDAY?
f e r n a n d e z: independent and goaloriented
women tend to intimidate
both men and women. So it’s
important for any successful person
to remain humble, approachable
and down-to-earth.
va l d e c a ñ a s: We can either inspire
or intimidate. a lot also depends on
the level of self-esteem of our male
partners or the men we work with.
j u a n: i think men have changed their
outlook. Most men now don’t mind
working for women bosses. in the
city at least, it’s no longer an issue.
s m e: ToP 3 LESSoNS
IN ENTREPRENEuRSHIP
f e r n a n d e z : Undivided attention.
Unshakable integrity. Unquenchable
thirst for learning and action.
j u a n: Do what you love; go into a
business for something you enjoy.
Don’t be afraid to fail; failure is a
lesson in disguise. choose your
partners well.
va l d e n c a ñ a s: Love your profession.
Be loyal to your work. Live, breathe
and dream your business.
s m e: WHo IS THE FEMALE ICoN
THAT You LooK uP To?
va l d e c a ñ a s: Queen elizabeth
f e r n a n d e z : annita roddick of
The Body Shop. She was able to
effectively merge business and
social cause together.
j u a n: i like oprah. She parlayed her
dreams into a sustainable television
network while doing her advocacies
and doing good.
s m e: WHAT IS THE LEgACY
THAT You WANT To LEAVE BEHIND?
va l d e c a ñ a s: i want to be remembered
as a doctor and entrepreneur who
helped make women and men feel
good about themselves by taking
care of their skin and physical
appearance over a long period of
time.
j u a n : Besides helping save the
philippine coffee industry, i want
to help the Filipino women excel
in business, achieve their financial
independence and remove them
from the clutches of oppression,
trafficking and domestic violence.
f e r n a n d e z: i imagine the day a few
decades from now, little children
will say “i want to be like her when
i grow up”. To be an inspiration
for future generations is one of the
greatest achievements. We should
aspire to be a good example to
everyone and to always choose the
right path.
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